9/19/09 - Halifax, Nova Scotia

So today I continue up north and end up in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Here's today's route.
Overall, I had a very pleasant albeit long drive. Very pretty country, mostly rural all the way. I'm having an interesting time with the money. I try to keep American money in one pocket and Canadian in another. I'll say this... It's very colorful. Me likee...
I was worried about needing to have C$ at the outset, but so far it hasn't been an issue. Even the tollbooths take A$ and give change in C$ (minus 5%) Overall, not a bad deal especially if you don't have the local currency.

On a positive note, I finally got a hold of a card reader so I can upload pictures. Too intent on getting to Halifax today to take any. Look for some tomorrow.

Along the way, I passed through Stewiacke, NS. Now, you may ask yourself, why is this idiot telling us about this place in the middle of nowhere? Well dear reader, I'll have you know that it's one of a few, cities in the world that is halfway between the equator and the north pole. Dat's right, here be 45 degrees latitude. A little factoid to share at the next cocktail party.

Random thoughts:

• Everything is so clean!
• Somewhere along the way I entered the ADT (Atlantic Daylight Timezone) I totally missed it until I turned on the TV and found out I was an hour behind what I was expecting. Good thing it didn't affect the eateries...
• It's chilly up here. 56-58 degrees all day
  
• Livestock update - Left - 45 cows, right - 87 cows. Hmmm, I hesitate to add that I saw 5 raccoons that MUST be shared - not animated.
• Listening to: The Cat Who Walks Though Walls - RAH
• No ESPN at the hotel... Can't watch the UGA/Arkansas game... Maybe it's a good thing.
• I'm having a hard time with the 110 Kph speed limit. I keep checking my gauges to make sure. The cruise control helps, but it still throws me every time I see the sign.

That's it for now... Stay tuned...

9/18/09 - Portland Maine

So today I decided to continue up north into New England.

Here's today's route.

Traffic through Massachusetts was horrid. Added an additional hour to my trip. One was understandable... There was a car on its roof on a on-ramp... 5 police cars, 2 ambulances, one fire engine and 8 humvees from the national guard. I've never known the NG to be mobilized for a single overturned vehicle, but I don't know everything.

I call the central reservation line of the hotel (to be named later depending on how they handle the situation). I tell the agent I want to book a room in Portland Maine for the night. He takes my details, books the room and gives me a reservation number. I drive up the hotel, and they can't find my reservation. After some looking they tell me they can't believe how good a rate I got... Wait for it... but my room is in Portland Oregon. I ask that they cancel the room in OR and give me one here. The agent gets on the phone with customer service and comes back and says she can't do that because it's after the cancellation time, but she can let me have a room at the ME hotel at the going rate. Says I have to call and request a refund because I'm the card holder.

So, I book the room at twice the rate I was expecting and head up to chill and make the calls. I'm walking down the hall and I hear barking from the room two doors down. I drop off the luggage, on my way down to drop off the cart, the dogs are going off again. I asked the front desk girl what the hotel policy is on yappy dogs. She says they're a pet friendly hotel, but will ask the guest to quiet the dogs down. I get something to eat and on the way back to the room she says that if necessary, she'll give me another room. I ask her if the guests told her to "eff off". Her body language and expression say "Yea, but I can't tell you that". I move on, and get to the room. On the way there, the barking intensifies. I get to the room, call down and tell them I want another room. No problem she says and tells me to wait in my room.

A few minutes later she comes up with another key, we grab my stuff and head up a floor. Turns out they decided to upgrade me to a suite. Very nice. Size of two rooms with a microwave and fridge. The front desk folks are trying really hard to make amends. I'm very happy with their effort, but will still dispute the charge for the Oregon room if they don't resolve the issue. So overall, I'm happy with the local service, but the HQ and west coast peeps are a a problem... at the moment.

Random Thoughts

• Gas is expensive here... 50-70 cents more than I paid in Atlanta
• Did not notice any livestock today.
  
• Listening to Spade and Archer The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon and The cat Who Walks Though Walls - RAH.
• Maybe I need to start booking through Hotwire again... At least if I get screwed there, it won't be too much of a surprise
• No pics today... Still need the card reader

That's all for now... Stay tuned...

9/17/09 - Hagerstown Md

So today I headed up towards the Great White North.

Here's today's route.

I forgot my camera cable, so No pictures of the trip today. I'll have to get another cable or a card reader tomorrow.

No big loss really. The weather was lousy. Rainy and misty all the way up.
This was the view all the way...

Random thoughts:

• Wondering when the rain will end
• Got a good deal on the hotel by remembering a sign I saw 30 miles previous - Sweet!
  
• Listening to Quitters Inc. by Stephen King and Spade and Archer The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon - A really cool book if you're into old detective stories.
• Livestock update - Left 398, right, 285

That's it for now... Stay tuned...

8/22/2009 - Julia's wedding

Cousin Julia got married today...

Here are some pictures of the event and more importantly, the reception...

CLICK on the pictures to get the full size! These are thumbnails!

Enjoy!

A rose by any other name...
Is still a rose...

The happy couple.
Mom and the siblings.
Over the head shot. That'll teach you to sneak up on me.

Would you look at that!


The "circle"

Checking the cameras...
The ceremony

6/20/09

So, today I made the final push to home.

Overall, this was a most enjoyable trip. It'll take a few days to unwind and reset from the hours I spent daily driving. Time to restock the fridge, chill out and get ready for the next trip.

Updates will resume in early September.

That's all for now... Stay tuned...

6/19/09 - New Orleans

So today I continued my way east and made it to New Orleans, La.
Here's today's route:
Also, here's what I saw most of the day: Traffic!
Bumper stickers at a souvenir shop in NOLA.

I must be getting really homesick because I didn't take too many pictures today. Nighttime pictures of NOLA weren't successful.
I checked into the hotel and went for a walk. It was almost unbearable with the heat and humidity. I walked the 1/2 mile down to Harrah's casino to play some poker, but all the tables were full and they had a waiting line. I punted and went to dinner. Ordered an oyster Po' Boy and ate the protein. Excellent oysters and bread. Just perfect.

Walked back to the hotel, had so OJ and updated the blog.

Random Thoughts:

• Ostrich farm 2 hours east of San Antonio - Neat!
• Finally a usable Internet connection. The Nets is important to our sanities.
• I wonder how much rubber is on the side of the roads. NHTSA has commissioned a study but it's not out yet. It's certainly not caused by retreads, I tell you that...
• Only 1 more day before I get back home! 3 cheers here.
• Listening to: Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card
  
• Livestock update: Didn't pay much attention, but the right takes it because of the huge bonus from the ostriches.

That's it for now... Stay tuned...

6/18/09 - San Antonio

So today, I decided to head east and start making my way home. Today's route went from Tucson, to San Antonio (880 miles). Yea, Texas is big. Here's today's route:
This is where I stayed in Tucson. It's a really neat hotel. It's as though time stopped there in the early 70's. Arcane furniture, and hardware, but spacious, spotless rooms, with great service. It was neat to see that not everyone ascribes to the same standard. Recommended.
More Arizona views.


You are now entering New Mexico. These were taken at the welcome center.
A life size picture of the Duke.
I don't know if I believe this, but it's interesting nonetheless.

Cool looking cactus.
Now entering the United States of Texas. It was cloudy and rainy from the Texas border to San Antonio. These are the best shots I could get under the circumstances.
Picnic area along the way.It was hot at the beginning of today's trip until it started raining.

Pecans, Walnuts, Wine!

Random Thoughts:

• I smell onions (Las Cruces, NM)
• I think I saw a jackalope out of the corner of my eye at one of the rest stops in in New Mexico, but wasn't quick enough with the camera.
  
• I smell cows! Thousands of them... Near El Paso. Must be a stockyard or something.
  
• El Paso is much bigger than I expected
• I see Mexico!
• There's a huge wind farm near Odessa.
• It's 90 degrees in San Antonio at 9pm.
• Listening to: Why Sh*t Happens, Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card
• Livestock update: Right wins... Nothing can overcome the overwhelming stockyard numbers near El Paso
• I'm tired of the road and need to head home.

That's it for now... Stay tuned...

6/17/09 - Tucson

So today I decided to head into the desert Southwest.
Here's today's route:
Drove through the desert. Here are some pics of SoCal and Arizona.
This is near the military base at a viewing area. You can see the rubber boats used during exercises.
Local flora looking for handouts.
Yuma, Arizona.
The Arizona landscape


Mid-flight...
The view from a border patrol checkpoint. When asked, the officer said they were checking for terrorists, illegals, contraband, etc. Strange thing is they only looked inside the car. No trunk check. I traveled through areas frequently checked I guess... I was stopped 4 times in the Southwest.
A nice representation of Arizona cacti. The big Saguaro on the right was about 15ft tall.
Saguaro cacti in the wild. These ranged from 10-15ft in tall.
It was a HOT drive 95-105 all the way from San Diego into Tucson.

Random Thoughts:

• About ½ the windshield cleaners at gas stations smell putrid. Did half the attendants forget how to rinse things?
• Listening to: Why Sh*t happens - The science of a Really Bad Day by Peter J. Bentley, PhD
• Livestock update: I didn't get a good count today, so we'll call it even at 893.

That's it for now... Stay tuned...

6/16/09 - Los Angeles

So, today I decide to head down to Los Angeles - home of UCLA - Go Bruins! (Secretly, this is where I wanted to go to college had circumstances been different...)

The Crowne Plaza at SF didn't charge for Internet access but I had to get a cable – bad wifi reception. Got up, cleaned up, and hit the road. I took the Pacific Coast Highway. It was a perfect day for the drive 72, sunny and it was absolutely gorgeous.
Here's today's route
Totally awesome views for miles. Here are some pics.
Wild Dill. I had to stop for a one lane road repair for about 15 minutes, so I had a snack of the stalks. Tasty!
Somebody was going a bit too fast some years ago...
More pretty pictures.



Booked the Hilton close to LAX at a very reasonable price. Problem is they charge for parking and Internet access. So I checked in, unloaded and went for a walk to find something to eat and check out the local fauna. It seems that 10% of the population is wanting something to eat. I may have passed 30 people and was hit up 3 times for $$ for “food”.

Passed thru Big Sur National forest

PCH yes, it's gorgeous and it goes on for miles and miles.
Carmel is cute. I can see why Clint lives there. A nice lady adopted me at the Safeway and let me use her frequent shopper card so I could save a few bucks. Nice folks in Carmel.

I saw 4 Zebras south of San Louis Obispo. They were among a herd of cattle.

Skunk!

Random Thoughts

• I smell sage
• There are quite a few hitchhikers along PCH. Something you hardly see anymore.
• I smell the ocean
• Artichokes, swiss chard, sunflowers, strawberries
• CHiPs all over PCH
• Grapevines! Wine, Wine, Wine
• Many livestock today, but the zebra bonus gives it to the left
  
• Listening to: Hellstrom's Hive, radio, Rush. Really loud
  

That's it for now... Stay tuned...